Blue Collar Worker Shortage

Ross Reynolds
09/04/2007 at 12:00 p.m.

There are lots of good paying blue collar jobs that no one wants. Why? Once upon a time most jobs were blue collar. But today most employees are service workers. Young people are encouraged to go to get an office job, out of the rain. As a result there's a blue collar labor shortage for well–paid skilled labor like utility line workers. Meanwhile there's an aging work force in jobs like carpenter, electrician, ironworker and sheet–metal specialist. Why aren't young people taking skilled labor jobs? Who is going to do those jobs? Do you work a blue collar job? Would you recommend your kids follow you into the trades? Also today, in Oregon petitioners are gathering names for ballot measures to roll back domestic–partnership rights and an anti–discrimination law. Gay rights proponents want to out people who sign the initiatives by posting their names on–line.